Plenty to unravel from Penn State’s 42-7 loss at Michigan on Saturday. Here’s a pick-six’s worth.

‘But nobody should blow us out. Nobody.’

On the flight home from Michigan in 2016, following a 49-10 loss, Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley and several teammates agreed to an extra film-study session on Monday, the team’s off day. That became a season-long practice and an impact moment of Penn State’s run to the Big Ten title.

The Lions won’t make a similar run this season after losing 42-7 in their return trip to Ann Arbor, but this week is no less important. That 2016 team still was forming post-sanctions, in coach James Franklin’s third year and with Joe Moorhead’s new offense. The expectations were undefined.

This time, Franklin humbled himself beneath Saturday’s 42-7 loss to Michigan, kept his answers short, said the Wolverines have the “No. 1 defense...

Now, the Lions have a resume, a fifth-year senior quarterback (however injured) and weighty expectations. Not to mention a series of losses (five by 12 points) that suggested the team was close to contending.

Franklin’s relatively young roster is unfamiliar with such a humbling loss. The coach has an opportunity to put that to use, flip a four-game win streak and deliver a third straight 10-win team for the first since 1980-82. It’s a reasonable goal but one still tempered by those expectations.

“We’re going to lose football games,” Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said before the 2016 season. “I’d prefer not to, but we’re going to lose some. But nobody should blow us out. Nobody.”

For Penn State to become a consistent title contender, that sentiment should stand.

Beyond running, though, McSorley hasn’t thrown the ball well the past three weeks. He’s 35 for 74 with one touchdown, three interceptions and 10 sacks, an out-of-character stretch for Penn State’s most prolific quarterback.

Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley said ‘in no way would I have expected’ a 42-7 loss to Michigan.

Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley said ‘in no way would I have expected’ a 42-7 loss to Michigan.

McSorley was off Saturday (5 for 13, one interception) and overthrew a wide-open DeAndre Thompkins on what would have been a touchdown. Since the play on which he was injured against Iowa, McSorley is 12 for 30 with two interceptions, one of which Iowa returned for a touchdown.

After the interception against Michigan, his last throw of the game, McSorley walked of the field angry. He’s not used to that.

“Honestly, I was saying expletives to myself,” he said. “… There were times we had to make a tough play, we didn’t and we made it worse. At that point it was more frustration.”

Jahan Dotson, first-down maker

Freshman receiver Jahan Dotson (Nazareth) has earned a larger role in the offense. All he does is make first downs.

Dotson has caught five passes the past three games, all moving the chains. He has converted two fourth-down plays, both of which led to touchdowns.

The first was more important, as it kept alive Penn State’s first scoring drive last week against Iowa. But the second produced his most memorable catch, a 19-yarder late against Michigan with a toe-tap that survived Jim Harbaugh’s challenge. That helped Penn State avoid its first shutout loss since 2001.

Penn State coach James Franklin said his team faces an important week of practice following its 42-7 loss to Michigan.

Penn State coach James Franklin said his team faces an important week of practice following its 42-7 loss to Michigan.

Dotson had the most catches (2) among Penn State receivers at Michigan and is averaging 12 yards per reception. Burn the redshirt next week and get him more snaps.

Getting off the field

Franklin said he plans to adjust practice this week to help the defense get off its legs. The group has been on the field for 346 plays the past four games.

“Our defense has played way too many reps the past 3-4 weeks,” Franklin said. “… This week is going to be really important.”

A continuing reason for that is Penn State’s third-down offense. Since converting 9 of 11 attempts at Illinois (resulting in a 63-24 win), the Lions have not converted at a rate better than 33 percent. In losses to Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan, Penn State is 8 for 42 (19 percent) on third down.

An understandable decision

Franklin drew criticism for his use of timeouts, particularly in the first half, which has been a sideline issue all season.

But the coach offered a reasonable explanation for having Michigan kick off again following a second-quarter out-of-bounds penalty. With his team down 14-0, and his offense having produced 38 yards in four series, Franklin entrusted KJ Hamler to get the return past the 35-yard line, where the possession would have started after the penalty.